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Maestas shares foreclosure experience, desire to help
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| Katherine Maestas, who lost her home to foreclosure last year, seeks to replace Elk Grove City Council Member Sophia Scherman in November’s election. |
By Gamaliel Ortiz - Citizen Staff Writer
Among the many fallen dominos of foreclosed homes that reverberated particularly hard on the local economy was Elk Grove City Council candidate Katherine Maestas.
Her family’s home foreclosed in the fall of 2007 after Maestas lost her job due to a heart condition.
As she makes her run against two-term Elk Grove City Council member Sophia Scherman, Maestas is in a unique position to empathize with the score of residents who have wondered what the city can do to help those with bad credit and lost homes.
“There’s a lot more we can do,” Maestas said. “There is legislation that can be proposed. There are cities out there throughout the nation that are finding solutions,” she said.
Maestas could not provide specific examples but noted that she has strengths on collaboration and fact-finding that could lead to solid plans for helping residents
In 2002, Maestas was told by her doctor that she might not survive her nine months of pregnancy due to a heredity heart condition that claimed her father’s life when he was 57.
Maestas decided to keep her child – abortion did not cross her mind. “It was a very frightening decision but we made the very obvious decision to keep our daughter,” she said.
“I was able to keep my daughter and all was fine,” Maestas said.
Her recovery took years, however. And her condition worsened.
“A few months after life kicked me in the knees,” she said. Maestas would not say what condition she has but only that it reached a dire point. Her doctor informed her that she needed heart surgery to replace valves.
“It was frightening to me not only because I got this news but it was frightening to me because I watched my father die at a very young age,” she said.
As her illness progressed, Maestas said her family struggled to make ends meet and make the mortgage payments.
“To lose one income was tragic,” she said. After exhausting their family savings and borrowed money, the Maestas family lost. Their home was tallied as another foreclosed home.
“I was embarrassed and ashamed,” she said. “It hurts everywhere.”
After her family ordeal and her better physical health, Maestas contemplated whether running for public office was the best choice.
It made perfect sense, she concluded.
She realized how much working families could go through and she simply wants to help.
“I want to be a voice for the working families because we have experienced it first hand; we’ve gone through the struggles,” she said. “I know what it feels like.”
It’s no surprise that Maestas has made her No. 1 priority the city’s economy.
“Voters are excited that they have a choice,” Maestas said. “They are frustrated that they have a city council that doesn’t truly listen to their concerns.”
Maestas said that voters are concerned that the city council is not fully hearing their voices in city matters.
She noted that the council snubbed her after a public comment on a proposed deal that rebates half of the transient occupancy tax for 10 years and 33 percent of the tax for the following five years to a hotel development. Over the duration, the developer would earn about $2.2 million in revenue, according to city estimates.
“I think an important point to make is that we approve new contracts, we provid living wage terms,” she said.
Maestas wanted to know how the incentive could help future employees and working wages since the hotel was getting the incentive. “There was no discussion of what kind of incentive there was for the employees.” She said the council did not get back to her.
“I’m very committed to represent the community,” she said. Maestas said the best planning, from her experience on the Sacramento County Planning Commission, is the kind that gathers input from community members.
While some of her opponents cling to their platform of experience or grand energy plans, Maestas hasn’t had a specific platform.
“I’m also experienced, but experienced with a voice,” Maestas said.
On public safety, examining the budget for expendable items and community organization or a community advisory committee, are methods she’d explore so the city can expand police resources, she said. She did not have specific examples of what items could be cut, however.
“We need to build a bridge. How can the community and police work better together and use the resources?” she said of what the advisory committee might explore.
With just several weeks away from the election, Maestas said she’d continue to do precinct walks and ask voters for her support.
“Elk Grove has a bright future,” she said from her office in Old Town. “We need to do our best.”
To listen to portions of the interview, visit the Citizen’s City Beat blog, elkgrove.ning.com
Her family’s home foreclosed in the fall of 2007 after Maestas lost her job due to a heart condition.
As she makes her run against two-term Elk Grove City Council member Sophia Scherman, Maestas is in a unique position to empathize with the score of residents who have wondered what the city can do to help those with bad credit and lost homes.
“There’s a lot more we can do,” Maestas said. “There is legislation that can be proposed. There are cities out there throughout the nation that are finding solutions,” she said.
Maestas could not provide specific examples but noted that she has strengths on collaboration and fact-finding that could lead to solid plans for helping residents
In 2002, Maestas was told by her doctor that she might not survive her nine months of pregnancy due to a heredity heart condition that claimed her father’s life when he was 57.
Maestas decided to keep her child – abortion did not cross her mind. “It was a very frightening decision but we made the very obvious decision to keep our daughter,” she said.
“I was able to keep my daughter and all was fine,” Maestas said.
Her recovery took years, however. And her condition worsened.
“A few months after life kicked me in the knees,” she said. Maestas would not say what condition she has but only that it reached a dire point. Her doctor informed her that she needed heart surgery to replace valves.
“It was frightening to me not only because I got this news but it was frightening to me because I watched my father die at a very young age,” she said.
As her illness progressed, Maestas said her family struggled to make ends meet and make the mortgage payments.
“To lose one income was tragic,” she said. After exhausting their family savings and borrowed money, the Maestas family lost. Their home was tallied as another foreclosed home.
“I was embarrassed and ashamed,” she said. “It hurts everywhere.”
After her family ordeal and her better physical health, Maestas contemplated whether running for public office was the best choice.
It made perfect sense, she concluded.
She realized how much working families could go through and she simply wants to help.
“I want to be a voice for the working families because we have experienced it first hand; we’ve gone through the struggles,” she said. “I know what it feels like.”
It’s no surprise that Maestas has made her No. 1 priority the city’s economy.
“Voters are excited that they have a choice,” Maestas said. “They are frustrated that they have a city council that doesn’t truly listen to their concerns.”
Maestas said that voters are concerned that the city council is not fully hearing their voices in city matters.
She noted that the council snubbed her after a public comment on a proposed deal that rebates half of the transient occupancy tax for 10 years and 33 percent of the tax for the following five years to a hotel development. Over the duration, the developer would earn about $2.2 million in revenue, according to city estimates.
“I think an important point to make is that we approve new contracts, we provid living wage terms,” she said.
Maestas wanted to know how the incentive could help future employees and working wages since the hotel was getting the incentive. “There was no discussion of what kind of incentive there was for the employees.” She said the council did not get back to her.
“I’m very committed to represent the community,” she said. Maestas said the best planning, from her experience on the Sacramento County Planning Commission, is the kind that gathers input from community members.
While some of her opponents cling to their platform of experience or grand energy plans, Maestas hasn’t had a specific platform.
“I’m also experienced, but experienced with a voice,” Maestas said.
On public safety, examining the budget for expendable items and community organization or a community advisory committee, are methods she’d explore so the city can expand police resources, she said. She did not have specific examples of what items could be cut, however.
“We need to build a bridge. How can the community and police work better together and use the resources?” she said of what the advisory committee might explore.
With just several weeks away from the election, Maestas said she’d continue to do precinct walks and ask voters for her support.
“Elk Grove has a bright future,” she said from her office in Old Town. “We need to do our best.”
To listen to portions of the interview, visit the Citizen’s City Beat blog, elkgrove.ning.com
